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Problems to Look Out for When Buying a Used Toyota Prius (Gen 2, 3 & 4)

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Technical Discussion' started by GFO, Sep 15, 2019.

  1. GFO

    GFO Member

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    Some might find this video interesting:



    Do the 2010's really have a known piston-ring problem?
     
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  2. ice9

    ice9 Active Member

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    "As for the design (appearance) of the fourth generation Prius? I don't know...
    ...it's hideous... ...it looks like the designers went on a acid trip."

    OK. It's all true. It's ugly, but it eventually grows on you after a while, and then all is good.:cool:
     
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  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    it does grow on you. i always liked the rear, but now the front looks pretty good
     
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  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    not just the 10's, they updated the rings in 14, and pistons in 15

    does he mention the egr, brake actuator and inverter?
     
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  5. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    Nope:cool:.

    When he describes the Gen4, it’s almost like @Mendel Leisk was talking;).

    Particularly in regards to the lights and “bumpers”:sick:.

    But I’ll take the Prime over our old Gen3 any day if the week (y).
     
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  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Close, it was pistons in 14, rings in 15. Yeah, I don't see why he singles out the 10's: as far as I know 10 through 13 are identical.
     
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  7. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    And we’ve seen failures here;).

    So it’s a commonality for Gen3 sans the 14 and 15(y).
     
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  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    rings, pistons, what's the difference?:p
     
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  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I wonder too, about the miracle pistons/rings: are they that great? You could rebuild a 10~13 Prius with original piston/rings, and it would be happy.
     
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  10. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    Mine went 125k miles prior to starting to blow by;).

    And even after that, a quart every 5-6k miles ain’t bad:).

    For those that believe in the closed hood maintenance method, they require the updates (y).
     
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  11. tvpierce

    tvpierce Senior Member

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    Exactly. According to Toyota's TSBs, 0168-16 and 0169-16, all Prius vehicles produced from 2010 - 2014 are affected.

    2010, 2012-2014 Prius PHV (Plug-In)
    2012-2014 Prius V
    2010-2014 Prius
     
  12. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I'm sceptical too, that the 2015's are immune. Again: you could tear down the engine and replace the pistons and rings with the old part numbers, and it would be happy for another 150K.

    My oil consumption poll thread so far has one 2015 responder, not much of a sample. :(

    3rd gen model year and oil consumption | PriusChat
     
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  13. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    When I had our 2010, I met a courier who had a 2017 because a big rig decided he needed the road space more than the 2015 he previously had did:eek:.

    He had 325k miles on his 2015 and he said there was no oil consumption :).

    He said based on his experience with the 2015 is the reason he got the 2017. But the 2017 apparently has tastier wiring than the 2015 as the rodents chewed on the engine wiring harness:cool:.

    But another statistic for your 2015 data(y).
     
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  14. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I'm still at zero consumption, but kinda waiting for the other shoe to drop.

    And I mean: all our Honda's were "social drinkers", I'm a little surprised this car's a teetotaler so far.
     
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  15. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    Has anyone done a survey of the early Gen. 3's to see if the oil ring does clog?
     
  16. Nor'easter

    Nor'easter Member

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    I think that dude in the video has single handedly beat down the value of 2010s.

    I was shopping for an 09 - 11 Honda Fit to replace an 11 Sport that met a sudden and unexpected end. Couldn't find the deal I was looking for, expanded the search to include Priii, just for fun (expected to be rather more $$), found a bunch of 2010s in the price range that I was shopping for Fits. The 11s were getting more money, the 10s weren't selling. Then I found that video :-/. Ah.

    After doing my homework, I concluded that this dude's views are unjustified (the 10s had more warranty problems, so what? Those got fixed...) If the '10 has a greater risk of becoming an oil burner, it isn't on account of the parts that went in the engine, as others have researched (thanks!). So took advantage of the "discount". Our 2010 just turned over 100K, we've put 2K on it, it hasn't used any detectable oil yet.
     
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  17. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    I'm going to turn 189,000 in a day or two on my 2010. I cleaned the egr system and intake manifold.
    It was very easy. My cooler was not clogged, just a lot of soot. There are recalls I need to do, just haven't
    gotten around to doing them yet. But no problems with my Prius!
    Do the maintenance and you should be find!

     
    #17 ASRDogman, Dec 16, 2019
    Last edited: Dec 16, 2019
  18. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    What’s your brake fluid change interval?
     
  19. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    2 years, or when I get around to it. :)
    I'll be changing the oil this week. It's suppose to rain tomorrow, so Wednesday.


     
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  20. George W

    George W Active Member

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    On the Gen 2, I'd pull the cargo interior panels, and look in the basement for rust / water damage